Collection is intellectually arranged into 19 series by 50-year increments and/or by undated centuries. Items are listed within series by document date. Documents are physically numbered in the sequential order in which they were originally cataloged (which was miscellaneous) and are housed in boxes in this number order. Patrons must know the item number and box number to be able to locate a specific document. The item numbers in this finding aid are not consecutive, because of the re-arrangement of the collection chronologically.

Finding Aid Author

Finding aid prepared by John Lihani, Spanish and Italian Professor, University of Kentucky; encoded by Olga Rodriguez-Walmisley under the direction of Ruth Bryan, Director of Archives

Preferred Citation

73m33: [identification of item], Collection on Manuscript Documents from Spain, 1139-1798, University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Repository

University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Scope and Content

The Collection on Manuscript Documents from Spain (dated 1139-1798; 5.85 cubic feet; 921 items) includes legal documents, ecclesiastical records, and personal papers in Latin, Spanish, Catalan, French, and Italian generated by Spanish dukes, counts, clerics, students, merchants, property owners, and many others. It also includes documents, edicts, and decrees endorsed or initiated by several Spanish kings including Ferdinand the Catholic (Ferdinand V); King Peter of Aragon; Philip II, Philip III, Philip IV, and Philip V; and Charles I, Charles, II, Charles III, and Charles IV. A few of the documents are signed by kings and princes, including numbers 153, 418, and 470 (Felipe IV); 158 and 161 (Felipe V); 698 (Felipe II); and 694 (Prince Carlos, son of Philip II). Other notables that appear frequently in this collection include the Duque de Abrantes, the Conde de Aguilar, the Marqu&eacute;s de Montealegre, the Conde de O&ntilde;ate, and the Duque de Sesar. A complete index of personal names can be found in the Special Collections Research Room.

A large portion of the collection consists of legal documents such as wills, bills of sale, and property transfers. Other materials include personal letters, marriage announcements, personal tributes, appointments, and genealogical records. The oldest document is number 753, dated 1139. The largest document is number 672, which is 58 cm by 64 cm. Document number 755 was written on February 15, 1212, five months before the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, the last stand of Muslims versus Christians.

Taken as a whole, this diverse group of documents the opportunity to study Spanish history and culture, linguistics, social mores, and economy from the twelfth through eighteenth centuries.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Use Restrictions

Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky holds the copyright for materials created in the course of business by University of Kentucky employees. Copyright for all other materials has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Special Collections.

This is a badly faded document; on its verso it bears a note stating the contents. Field and vineyard given to monastery. The text bears the date of the Hispanic Era, 1313, which is 38 years more than the Christian Era. 1 leaf.

Authentic copy of an edict by Peter, King of Aragon, in good memory of P. Marmads of poder de vender ls. cence de Cardeny e dela casa anno Rleyda...scriptor de dit. S. Rey. Copy of decree made by secretary to the king. Decree dated December 2, 1382. A note by later hand states that the document is an important one. A Latin scholar has estimated that it would take a week's work to decipher the document's script in order to verify its contents. Latin. Vellum. 1 leaf.

Objections to false testament of individual attributed to Pedro de Soto. Written during the reign of Fernando el cat&oacute;lico; a recent note on the document seems to attribute the same to Fernando. Document has an official seal. This document shows one of the clearest early uses of seseo (/z/ = [s]) in period of the Catholic Kings in Castile. 1 leaf.

3 letters from Prince Carlos to 3 separate people in order to facilitate marriage between Enrique Enr&iacute;quez and his niece, In&eacute;s Enr&iacute;quez. Also includes one page describing the letters. The three autographed letters may be copies. 4 leaves.

Document Signed. Joan de Acu&ntilde;a (Conde de Buend&iacute;a). To town council. Don Joan de Acu&ntilde;a, Conde de Buend&iacute;a, se&ntilde;or de la villa de due&ntilde;as, gentilhombre de la c&aacute;mara de su Magestad., 1568 May 27

Two documents bound together. Copy of charter from King Philip II. Documents are dated October 3, 1591 and July 14, 1592. Second document contains several signatures, including one from the King and another from Melchior Davila de la Cueua. Legal. 3 leaves.

Testimony, Petition, and final printed result of lawsuit.The Cabinet of Ministers of Boan rules in don Pedro Fern&aacute;ndez de Bohan y Landecho's favor against don Luis Fern&aacute;ndez Duke of Cordova, Arag&oacute;n y Bohan, but don Pedro must confirm the final verdict. Don Pedro will not receive the full amount he is owed, but will receive more than what don Luis originally offered. 28 leaves.